Sidestreet Pho

I’m sad that I live too far from this place to be able to enjoy it whenever I want because it’s that good, and I am not exaggerating. The food is delicious and every single item is packed with flavor, served fresh, and tasted better than you could even fathom. I came with my best friend who’s a vegan and she was able to order so many items like king mushrooms, spring rolls, fried rolls, and tofu. I tried it all and ordered a meatless pho, the broth is seasoned to perfection and the noodles taste homemade without a doubt. If you love passion fruit then their slushie is a must, so smooth. On top of the best food and pho, the customer service is top tier hands down. Anyways if you haven’t figured out that you have to go for yourself and try, then you’re missing out.

The shaken beef plate with garlic noodles was top tier, I will be back for it no doubt. The oxtail pho was a little difficult to get the meat off the bone for me tbh. Service fast and excellent on a Friday night! $90 for 2 people with tax + tip

I usually get a Banh Mi to go but today I had Seafood Pho (delicious!) and Thai Ice Tea (with coconut cream and it was good! Not as sweet but yummy!) and the service was excellent - I felt welcomed and taken care of - super professional!

5/5 for the Food and drinks, it was spectacular, great serving sizes and good variety! The variety of beverages and the cola’s they had! Rating 4/5 for Service since I can’t speak to the service when it’s busy, but it’s spectacular when it was not so busy. Food came out quick and they checked up on us often. Atmosphere 4/5, again it wasn’t busy so can’t fully speak to the vibe of the restaurant. But as it was calmer and slower it was a chill vibe. They had fun Vietnamese music playing!

My go to for the best Oxtail Pho in the Bay. If you're a Pho lover, you have to try this place. You can't go wrong with a Thai Tea or their ginger Lemonade either. One of Alameda's best restaurants.

Excellent food, drinks and service. Everything I tried was fresh and tasty. Outdoor seating for furry friends!

It was an okay experience eating here. I got the ribeye pho and the broth was quite oily but had decent flavor. I was displeased with the "ribeye" that was in the broth. It looked like some chewed up bits thrown into the soup and it was extremely chewy. The server was nice, but never bothered to check up with us after taking our order and bringing our food.

So, several months ago, this was one of my favorite restaurants, and one of the best pho places in the Bay Area. Unfortunately the last 2 times I came the pho was super oily. I remember when there was no oil in the broth, delicious, healthy and tasty. Now it was a greasy mess. I dont know why but the restaurant seems to have ruined something really special.

my all time favorite pho. great portions and prices. inside and outside seating is comfortable and clean. staff is great

Came here for the first time for lunch and we ordered the com tam thit nuong (broken rice plate with pork & the bun bo hue. The order came out pretty fast. My friend enjoyed the rice plate. For me, the bun bo hue was fine, just a little different in the meats. It wasn't the usual slice beef or the pork hock in normal BBH bowls. This bowl had some shredded beef or something, not sure. It wasn't bad though. The soup wasn't as spicy as other BBH bowls I've had. Overall, it was fine! Service was good. When you enter into the restaurant, the right side of it are smaller tables with chairs for 2 people. The middle section is a large table. And the left side are tables for 4 people and it's stools (not chairs). I like that the table had hooks too for your bag. Interior was nice! Street parking only.

The food is excellent, however: The protein portions in the dishes have gone down over the past year. Most patrons have to sit on stools (not chairs) and I'm just too old for this. It was horribly uncomfortable 2/3 through my meal and I had to leave to take a walk. Service was somewhat slow. I think they forgot 2 of our dishes.

Overall a great bang for your buck. The portions are large but could be more flavorful. The service was great but it took a while to get the food out. Would definitely recommend for a small group 3-4 people. Would not reccomend the mango milkshake it doesn't have a lot of flavors

Food was great! Second time here and it didn't disappoint! Love the tomato soup and the spicy soup! Service was good, they're nice, ambience ok too parking can be a bit of a challenge

Got the bun bo hue here and it's definitely different than the traditional BBHs I've had at other Vietnamese restaurants (Sidestreet uses different kinds of beef but still has cha lua). Still delicious and a little too sweet for my taste. They do have pork blood which is not for everyone and they let you adjust your spiciness level. I got it "spicy" and it wasn't too bad at all!

Excellent food. Shaken beef, pho, bone marrow-all fire. Haven't had anything I didn't like here. Cozy little spot. Solid staff. Street parking. 100% worth it

I'd say my rating is more 3.5 on the food alone. Stopped in on a Sunday evening for dinner around 6:45. It was busy but we were able to get seated quickly (or there's an iPad to join a waitlist). The space is small, but not quite cozy feeling. We sat next to the door and it was a little cold with people coming in and out. Ordered the chicken wings ($13), shaky beef ($23) with garlic noodles(+$2), and the broken rice plate "the works" ($22). I'm not sure if we should have gone with pho or other noodle dishes but everything we had was just.... okay; nothing that was wow or I'd come back for in flavor. The beef was maybe the best thing overall. To me, the pork with the rice (I asked for no bone) was a bit more fatty and the garlic noodles tasted more like take out Chinese/greasy and strong garlic. I think the portions were fine but if you normally eat Vietnamese food, you'll notice it's a little bit on the pricey side (like basic pho is $17+), but I guess it comes with needing to survive in this economy. The server was nice and accommodating to my little toddler. The food came out pretty quickly. If you want Viet food and are close to here, I'd say give it a try, but I think there are more authentic tasting/better options elsewhere.

Pretty decent restaurant. Thai Tea was good. Egg rolls were crispy. Pho needed a little more flavor, but it's enough to satisfy your pho cravings. Definitely great for a rainy weather. Customer service was great. Parking is mainly on the street - had to park a block away.

Came here on a Sunday night for dinner. Was cold and needed some soup. We ordered some egg rolls to start and everyone ordered a bowl of pho. Staff here is quick and very friendly. Portions were huge and the place was packed inside. Ambiance here is very nice and love the moral between customers and employees

Sidestreet Pho is one of my favorite restaurants in Alameda. Vietnamese comfort food. When I'm not in the mood for Pho, I love X4 Crispy Rice Noodles. -- it full of mixed proteins and veggies with the best sauce ever. You will have enough for leftovers too! My friend ordered the chicken porridge and I love that it comes with the ultimate Chinese donut to dip in the porridge. Family owned and wonderful food!

On a Sunday evening around 5:30pm, it was pretty crowded but you get seated quickly. They have community tables in the middle if you're willing to sit with other strangers. We ordered the Beef Ribeye Pho and Seafood Pho (first time I've seen seafood pho!). Food came out within 5 minutes. What I really liked was the broth was clear and stayed clear - unlike other restaurants where after eating/mixing the noodles around, the broth would get murky and gray-ish. There was a good amount of shrimp, squid and other seafood items in my seafood pho. One thing to note - they have a lot of takeout orders, so if you sit near the door people tend to keep the door open and it brings in the really cold air, which was not ideal. Additionally, the tables are all pretty squeezed together so there's going to be people bumping into each others' chairs. Despite those small issues, we will come again!

I've ordered pho, I've ordered the pan fried rice noodles, I've ordered the rice plate, I've ordered the crepe, I've ordered the bun/vermicelli and I've ordered fresh and crispy spring rolls. I haven't had a bad dish here. I will say that I haven't eaten in person since before COVID, BUT even the takeout is good! Their pho is the only thing that can give me life when I'm sick and it feels like a warm hug on a cold day!

This place is AMAZING!! Truly a hidden gem in Alameda. The pho broth was incredibly fresh and flavorful -- honestly one of the best I've ever had. You can really taste the quality and care they put into their food. The service was just as impressive. The waitress and hostess were so kind, welcoming, and attentive. We were seated right away, and the whole restaurant is absolutely gorgeous inside. The décor matches the vibe of the food perfectly -- warm, modern, and so aesthetically pleasing. I'm definitely coming back the next time I'm craving pho. This spot deserves all the love!

Mmmmyummm! Still thinking about the amazingly delicious chicken porridge here!! So many flavors all living their best life in my mouth lol.. chicken, green onions, fried shallots, broken rice, pepper.. I could taste each flavor and them together enhanced in this porridge - honestly the best porridge I've ever had and my picky Vietnam-raised parents also agreed! So definitely order the porridge here! The menu is quite broad with honestly so many of my favorite Vietnamese dishes that it was hard to decide on this first visit; the porridge is the hero dish for me personally. The other items we ordered (crispy egg rolls, pho tai, pork broken rice ) were ok but I likely would rather try other menu items on my next visit. The beef in the pho tai was fairly fatty/chewy which isn't my preference and while the soup was good, it was oilier/ fattier than I like. Similarly the pork on the rice dish was more fatty than I like also. Sharing this experience based on my personal preference for folks who also prefer leaner cuts but it is a traditional style and happily enjoyed by my parents who like fattier cuts. The broken rice was perfectly cooked and memorably moist fluffy. I also liked they provided plenty of pickled veggies. Restaurant is very nicely decorated and remarkably efficiently set up for the small space. The service, food and drinks were prompt, efficient and attentive. Really enjoyable experience and I look forward to returning regularly as I really liked the menu and service is great! They have street parking and two dog friendly outside tables!

I've gotten the chicken porridge to go a few times and have been meaning to write a review. It's perfect when you're not feeling too well or just want some porridge. It is a little bit salty but I didn't mind. It comes with the fried dough stick which I loved..! A lil crispy treat to dip into the porridge or to eat on the side. When I do eat here in person, I do notice the soup is sometimes not hot enough for me. I like my soup hot (temp wise) but I'll give the pho another try.

Was craving viet food and decided to try this place out! Was pretty packed at night time so we sat at the bar, which was only for two people. I ordered a pho and my bf ordered the shaken beef with garlic noodles. The beef was sooo tender and the garlic noodle had so much "wok hay" (iykyk lol). The pho broth was so clean and pure - not like some places where they load it with MSG and salt! We also ordered two appetizers - the garlic chicken wings & bone marrow toast. The chicken wings were crispy and delicious and it was paired with a lime juice/salt/pepper sauce(?). The bone marrow toast was flavorful but i don't think I would personally get it again. Overall, nice little gem in Alameda.

7:30pm on a Friday night. The wait time was estimated at 30-45 minutes. There is open seating outside, since I am dining alone I asked if I could sit outside and they agreed. It's a little chilly outside, but as an Alaskan transplant, it's nothing I can't handle. Took about 20 minutes for my food to arrive. The server brought it out was very kind. Pho was super hot, ribeye was perfectly tender. I got some spring rolls and the peanut sauce was really good. The presentation is a little silly but you know. Everyone has their thing. I can see why there's a line, but not sure I'd be willing to wait 45 minutes for a table. Maybe next time I'll get on the waitlist before coming down.

I ordered a Pho Tai off of Doordash. Well instead of sending me rare beef I was given scraps of whatever brisket they seemed to have left. If I wanted dry brisket I would have ordered it. Seemed like they were out of rare beef and just gave me whatever they had left Plus they didn't provide enough broth as the noodles absorbed a lot of it Would never order again

Food was good our table was waiting for us the beer was good too will be back next time we want pho

A bowl of Pho for $28! When asked why the small amount - Answer: We charge by the oz. Judge for yourself.

The food was amazing and they were very efficient and quick and the broth was delicious the meat was really amazing. Emily's son

This was my first time at the restaurant also first time trying the K5 Cha Gio (Crispy Pork Rolls). While eating, I bit into something extremely hard -- at first I thought it might be extra-crispy pork, but it turned out to be two rock-like pieces inside the roll. It was surprising and a bit concerning, so please be careful. I hope this was just an accident, but I wanted to share my experience.

The location was somewhat confined, but the authenticity of the cuisine was remarkable. Extremely tasty and highly satisfying. 5 stars for Staff/Ambiance/food

Cute spot downtown but parking is hard to find. It's very small inside and gets full quickly. Prices are a bit high but food is decent.

One of my favorite lunch spots in Alameda especially when the season finally gets chilly. I recommend either their bun bo hue or pho dac biet. They're pretty good for the area. I'm not going to compare it to South Bay. Anyway, the service was decent from ordering to paying. The restaurant isn't spacious so you'll have to make do OR use their outdoor seatings. Parking is a pain so good luck!

Best Pho Ga. The regular phos were fine not memorable but the Pho Ga was for sure the best I have ever had. Service was good and we did wait about an hour on a Friday night but it was busy so it's expected. Restaurant is kind of tight but a good amount of seating. The menu had a lot of items to choose from. I love that they have the chinese donuts!

I think this is going to be my new pho place. I enjoyed the atmosphere I enjoyed the cleanliness of the place I enjoyed the thoroughness of the servers they were attentive they checked on us it was great experience. I was there with a co-worker for lunch about 2 weeks ago had shrimp pho with no noodles extra veggies which was a little pricey but it was so good I love that cinnamon that's in the bra especially on a cold rainy day and I was on the brink of getting sick so it was perfect. They also had vegetarian spring rolls which were so good the peanut sauce was good at a little chilly oil Sriracha to it great appetizer that's almost a meal. I will definitely go back.

This place has been on my list for a while and I was pleased with my visit. I visited on Memorial Day and it wasn't too busy since we go there when it opened. Since we decided to sit outside we had to order at the front and pay before dining. I'm guess this is to control people that eat outside and leave without paying. Service was pretty too even though we were outside. We ordered: * Spring rolls - it was good but also wasn't the best spring roll ever or the worst * Banh Xeo - very full of shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts, crepe has a nice crisp but I feel like it could have been crispier. * Vermicelli looked good and my friend seemed to enjoy it. I forgot to try this * Pho - the broth tasted authentic and I liked that the noodles were stuck together with a good amount of meat as well. Also gave a good size portion of everything Overall this place is a bit pricey but with how inflation is I guess these prices are almost normal now. I would return if I am in Alameda and want some Vietnamese food.

We were seated quickly by a very kind hostess. They were great despite how busy it was. We had the wings--crispy, hot, and juicy. The dipping sauce didn't accompany the wings as well I would have hoped. The pho we ordered was pretty tasty and piping hot! It was definitely what we needed on a chilly evening after a long day of travel. I wish that it had a little more umami flavor, but all in all a solid meal just a bit pricey in my opinion.

The ambiance is cozy and intimate, good place for a date night or even family outing! Our server was very attentive and kept coming back to check on how we were doing. She was very understanding and made sure to note down any customizations we wanted for our dishes. I ordered the regular sized rib eye pho. The broth itself was so rich in flavor and kept me wanting more and more. After finishing my food I was incredibly stuffed. I also enjoyed the small candy they gave out as a palette cleanser after we paid the bill!

We eat here frequently. However this last time we went I swear that the portion was smaller. I usually order a large size pho and can barely finish it and this time around i finished everything. It appears that they are making the previous smaller bowel the new " large" bowl. Also my pho barely had any protein in it. For $23 this is not worth it. I also agree that the stools are very uncomfortable. As much as I loved this place I don't think I will be going anymore. Time to find another Pho place in the area.

3.5 stars. A pretty good option for when the pho craving strikes. I know pho aficionados who insist there is no decent pho in Alameda, and perhaps my pho palate is just not refined enough, but Sidestreet usually does the trick for me when I'm in the mood for a hot bowl of pho. Is it the best pho I've ever had? Nope, but it's satisfactory. A huge plus in my book is that they have a vegan option with vegan broth. This is what I opt for every time we visit. My carnivore partner opts for a bowl with beef, and we've both enjoyed our selections. They have a decent beer and wine menu. Service is always good. Good location too, a block away from Park St.

We went there for lunch in the middle of the week, I ordered beef rice plate with salad, generous serving of beef. Had a local beer from a local brewery. My wife had the hot broth soup and fresh young coconut juice. We requested for the coconut to be cut in half so i could eat the white coconut meat inside. Our experience is almost like visiting one of the tropical islands back home, with the food, we are just missing the beach and the water under out feet. Will come back again and they are highly recommended!!!

When we came we put ourselves on the waitlist & it was less then a 5 min wait which wasn't bad for 2 people. The waiter was very sweet coming by to check up on us & see if we were ready to order since it was our first time we needed more than a couple of minutes. They were sweet to even accommodate with my shellfish allergy. All the servers were sweet & nice when they gave us the food & the food was nice & hot. I also didn't feel rush to finish my food & they didn't give us our check til we were done & finished to go. I will definitely come here again if I'm craving pho again it's better than the place I used to go to in San Leandro called joes pho. It wasn't loud here & I didn't feel claustrophobic here that I was expecting to feel from one of the reviews I read.

Service - 4/5 Ambiance- 3/5 Food - 5/5 This is my go-to pho spot in Alameda. Service and food are consistently good. Also shoutout to the host who is always singing (give that man a mic!) Housemade Ginger Tea - SO good. I ordered it every time. It's so soothing and delicious. Pork Bánh Mì - Love to order this sandwich to pair with my pho! It's a pretty chunky sandwich and packed with flavor Ribeye or Oxtail Pho are my usuals! Both delicious. BÚN RIÊU - this was a recommendation by the staff because I wanted to try something new and I LOVED IT. It's a tomato, noodle soup mixed with pork and seafood. Highly recommend

I was in the area on a week night and was craving pho. This place caught my eye because it had great reviews and its women owned. Always love to support locally women owned businesses. And the fact that this restaurant closes late also was another bonus. Very clean and cute inside. Was seated right away and the girl who took my order was very friendly and pleasant indeed. My order came quick. I must admit the prices are slightly higher than others but the quality of the pho justified that and the presentation. The broth was not salty at all and the noodles are thin and a very substantial soup and quite delicious. I got all tendon and the soup came with plenty of it and very tender. Although it was late I didn't feel rushed at all. They had outdoor seating that was very cute and tempting too perhaps I will come back another time to sit outside.

Fresh, Authentic and Tasty You know a restaurant is good when it's packed on a Sunday morning. Walked by and just had to try. So glad we did! Fried Tofu appetizer was the perfect amount of crispy and silky. Service was equally impressive and servers were attentive and efficient. My only disappointment was I didn't try the spring rolls which coming out of the kitchen appear not-to be-missed! Next time for sure!

I've been coming to Sidestreet Pho for a couple years now. I do prefer some pho places in Oakland more in terms of quality and price. However, it is convenient for us to come here when we want some quick pho and don't want to go to Oakland later in the night. The pho is decent, but I do think their broth lack richness in flavor comparing to some other places. Especially for the regular beef pho, the star anise and sweetness kind of stood out bit much for my preference. We do really enjoy their broken rice plates, and savory crepe. For the savory crepe, I haven't seen other places offer it, so we usually come back just for that too. Service No complain on the service itself. The servers are attentive and quick to take orders when we are ready. Ambiance Casual ambiance. Good for group hangout as well since they have a section area in the middle that could pool some tables together. Not much wait usually. Overall, I think the food here is slightly overpriced. Giving it 3/5 since there are some items I enjoy getting and the location is convenient for people in Alameda.

Sooooooo good. Best I ever had. Fast service. Clean environment. Flavors were immaculate omg I went back twice in one week chefs kiss!

Bad service, take over an hour and half to get your order come . All kinds excuses when you ask Food is not that great

I was in the area and decided to give this place a try. We parked down the street. The place is small but they use every space possible. There's tables and chairs in the front. There's a booth and they seat you. The tables are a light tight on the sides. We got the menu and there was your regular pho options. We ordered shrimp spring rolls. The peanut sauce was okay but i like the light peanut sauce and they only had dark. The food took a while to get there. My husband ordered shaking beef and I ordered pho but there was an option for just noodles and broth. My soup tasted like real authentic bone broth. The portions were good. My husband liked his he said it was good. Overall okay experience. It was a little pricey compared to other places.

Ate here with a few friends. I was surprisingly good. I order some items off the menu and they were kind enough to make them for me. Parking is a real issue and I had to illegally park in the Jack in the Box next door. Also, the outside did not have heaters so it made it a little hard and cold. Taste 4 Quality 4 Quantity 4 Aroma 4 Presentation 5 Appetizer 3 Service 5 Parking 2 Atmosphere 3 Selection 4 Alcohol 3 Dessert N/A Value 4

Mmmmmm I really liked the pho here! I was recommended the P3 or Oxtail pho and yessss it was so tasty with the oxtail meat and cartilage inside. The soup tasted so gooooooood too. Highly recommend the Oxtail Pho P3... if you like Oxtail that is! Tried the Goi salad K4 which was also a great starter. Fresh cabbage, herbs, carrots, chicken breast, fried shallots, crushed peanuts, and a vinaigrette sauce which I'm not sure what's in it. It was great as a starter and good to eat in between the pho too!

What a great spot for Vietnamese in Alameda! My friend and I dropped by for dinner Thursday evening around 6:40 and it was pretty busy. Most tables were full except for 2. They have a good variety of Vietnamese dishes on the menu, ranging from vermicelli bowls to pho and other noodle soups to rice and stir fry dishes. I was planning to get some kind of noodle soup, but when I saw they have bo luc lac on the menu with garlic noodles ($25), I knew I had to get it. It's one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes, especially when they use a good cut of beef like they do here with the cubed filet mignon. I appreciated they have some vegetarian friendly options as well, such as vegan noodle soup and veggie stir fry. Made it easier for my friend to order. The beef and noodles were both fantastic. The beef was seared nicely and had good flavor, and the garlic noodles had a lot of wok hei. I can tell they cooked both in high heat. My friend ended up going with the vegan noodle soup. It was good, but he wasn't expecting it to come with glass noodles and that took us both by surprise. I tried a sip and the broth was pretty flavorful for a vegan broth. It looked like most people here got pho, judging from all the orders I saw around us. I'd love to come back and try that sometime!

Second time here. Visit this place bc we wanted pho again! Service was great, seating was comfortable. We ordered egg noodles and bun Bo hue, together with bone marrow. All tastes good. I love the soup of bun Bo hue, it's strong but not too much. The soup of the egg noodles was much lighter, but still good.

came in by accident and love the vibe here. People here seem busy but elegant. I have not had a avocado shake for too long and I got it here. The calamari is so interesting, the batter does not taste like anywhere else. I still love American diner's calamari more. Lol The two entries are not the best ones I had, but their tofu skin is pretty good. I might come back again if I visit alameda.

The food is really good. I ordered double fried spring rolls and a regular pho with sliced ribeye. I came in for lunch, they greeted me and sat me down fast. The broth was flavorful and a generous portion of meat. I really enjoyed my meal. Inside was nice and clean. I definitely recommend checking them out.

We love this place. Hai Mi, our server, is amazing. She recommended we try the appetizer since we were not sure what to order. My husband got the shaken beef with garlic noodles, and I got the brisket pho(not pictured because we were so hungry). The food came out quickly. Highly recommended!